Benzofuran derivatives as D4 receptor antagonists

ABSTRACT

A class of chemical compounds comprising a benzo [b] furan moiety and a substituted heterocyclic moiety, linked via the 3-position of the benzo [b] furan moiety by a methylene group, are antagonists of dopamine receptor subtypes within the brain, being extremely potent antagonists of the human dopamine D 4  subtype over other dopamine receptor subtypes, and are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia while manifesting fewer side-effects than those associated with classical neuroleptic drugs.

This application is a 371 of PCT/GB/00947 filed May 26, 1995.

This invention relates to a particular class of heteroaromatic compounds. More particularly, the invention is concerned with benzofuran derivatives which are antagonists of dopamine receptor subtypes within the brain and are therefore of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia.

The "dopamine hypothesis" of schizophrenia predicts an increased activity of dopamine neurotransmission in the disease. The hypothesis is supported by early observations that drugs, such as amphetamine, with dopamine agonist or dopamine-releasing properties are capable of eliciting a psychosis indistinguishable from acute paranoid schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a disorder which is conventionally treated with drugs known as neuroleptics. In the majority of cases, the symptoms of schizophrenia can be treated successfully with so-called "classical" neuroleptic agents such as haloperidol. Classical neuroleptics generally are antagonists at dopamine D₂ receptors. The fact that classical neuroleptic drugs have an action on dopamine receptors in the brain thus lends credence to the "dopamine hypothesis" of schizophrenia.

Molecular biological techniques have revealed the existence of several subtypes of the dopamine receptor. The dopamine D₁ receptor subtype has been shown to occur in at least two discrete forms. Two forms of the D₂ receptor subtype, and at least one form of the D₃ receptor subtype, have also been discovered. More recently, the D₄ (Van Tol et al., Nature (London), 1991, 350, 610) and D₅ (Sunahara et al., Nature (London), 1991, 350, 614) receptor subtypes have been described.

Notwithstanding their beneficial antipsychotic effects, classical neuroleptic agents such as haloperidol are frequently responsible for eliciting acute extrapyramidal symptoms (movement disorders) and neuroendocrine (hormonal) disturbances. These side-effects, which clearly detract from the clinical desirability of classical neuroleptics, are believed to be attributable to D₂ receptor blockade in the striatal region of the brain. It is considered (Van Tol et al., supra; and WO-A-92/10571) that compounds which can interact selectively with the dopamine D₄ receptor subtype, whilst having a less-pronounced action at the D₂ subtype, might be free from, or at any rate less prone to, the side-effects associated with classical neuroleptics, whilst at the same time maintaining a beneficial level of antipsychotic activity.

The compounds of use in the present invention, being antagonists of dopamine receptor subtypes within the brain, are accordingly of benefit in the treatment and/or prevention of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. In particular, the compounds of use in this invention are extremely potent antagonists of the human dopamine D₄ receptor subtype. Moreover, the compounds of use in the invention have a selective affinity for the dopamine D₄ receptor subtype over other dopamine receptor subtypes, in particular the D₂ subtype, and can therefore be expected to manifest fewer side-effects than those associated with classical neuroleptic drugs.

EP-A-0077607 describes a class of piperidine derivatives substituted in the 3-position by a substituted phenyl moiety and on the ring nitrogen atom by inter alia an optionally substituted benzofuryl or benzofuryl-alkyl group. Certain of these compounds are stated to be dopamine agonists, whilst others are alleged to be dopamine antagonists. There is, however, no disclosure in EP-A-0077607 of substitution at the 4-position of the piperidine ring, nor is there any suggestion that the compounds described therein might be potent antagonists of the human dopamine D₄ receptor subtype, still less that they might have a selective affinity for the dopamine D₄ receptor subtype over other dopamine receptor subtypes, and especially the D₂ subtype.

The present invention provides a compound of formula I, or a salt or prodrug thereof: ##STR1## wherein A represents hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, halogen, cyano or trifluoromethyl;

Q represents a moiety of formula Qa, Qb, Qc or Qd: ##STR2## in which the broken line represents an optional chemical bond; R¹ represents hydrogen, or an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, aryl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl, C₃₋₇ heterocycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl or heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl group;

R² represents an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, aryl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryloxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl, C₃₋₇ heterocycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl or heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl group;

R³, R⁴ and R⁵ independently represent hydrogen, hydrocarbon, a heterocyclic group, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl, nitro, --OR^(a), --SR^(a), --SOR^(a), --SO₂ R^(a), --SO₂ NR^(a) R^(b), --NR^(a) R^(b), --NR^(a) COR^(b), --NR^(a) CO₂ R^(b), --COR^(a), --CO₂ R^(a) or --CONR^(a) R^(b) ;

Z represents --CH₂ -- or --CH₂ CH₂ --;

R⁶ represents hydrogen or halogen, or an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy or heteroaryl group; and

R^(a) and R^(b) independently represent hydrogen, hydrocarbon or a heterocyclic group.

The present invention also provides compounds of formula I above, and salts and prodrugs thereof, wherein A represents hydrogen; and Q, R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above.

As will be appreciated, the compounds according to the present invention alleviate the symptoms of schizophrenia, but do not cause sedation or extrapyramidal disorders at the dose of the compound of formula I which is therapeutically effective in alleviating the symptoms of schizophrenia.

In order to elicit their advantageous properties, the compounds according to the present invention ideally have a human dopamine D₄ receptor subtype binding affinity (K_(i)) of 10 nM or less, preferably 2 nM or less; and at least a 50-fold, suitably at least a 70-fold, preferably at least a 100-fold, more preferably at least a 250-fold, and most preferably at least a 500-fold, selective affinity for the D₄ subtype relative to the D₂ subtype.

For use in medicine, the salts of the compounds of formula I will be pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Other salts may, however, be useful in the preparation of the compounds according to the invention or of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds according to this invention include acid addition salts which may, for example, be formed by mixing a solution of the compound according to the invention with a solution of a pharmaceutically acceptable acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, carbonic acid or phosphoric acid. Furthermore, where the compounds according to the invention carry an acidic moiety, suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof may include alkali metal salts, e.g. sodium or potassium salts; alkaline earth metal salts, e.g. calcium or magnesium salts; and salts formed with suitable organic ligands, e.g. quaternary ammonium salts.

The term "hydrocarbon" as used herein includes straight-chained, branched and cyclic groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms, suitably up to 15 carbon atoms, and conveniently up to 12 carbon atoms. Suitable hydrocarbon groups include C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl and aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl.

The expression "a heterocyclic group" as used herein includes cyclic groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom preferably selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. The heterocyclic group suitably contains up to 15 carbon atoms and conveniently up to 12 carbon atoms, and is preferably linked through carbon. Examples of suitable heterocyclic groups include C₃₋₇ heterocycloalkyl, C₃₋₇ heterocycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl and heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl groups.

Suitable alkyl groups within the scope of the term "hydrocarbon" and within the definition of the substituents A, R¹, R² and R⁶ include straight-chained and branched alkyl groups containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Typical examples include methyl and ethyl groups, and straight-chained or branched propyl and butyl groups. Particular alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl and t-butyl.

Suitable alkenyl groups within the scope of the term "hydrocarbon" and within the definition of the substituents R¹ and R² include straight-chained and branched alkenyl groups containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Typical examples include vinyl and allyl groups.

Suitable alknyl groups within the scope of the term "hydrocarbon" and within the definition of the substituents R¹ and R² include straight-chained and branched alkynyl groups containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms. Typical examples include ethynyl and propargyl groups.

Suitable cycloalkyl groups include groups containing from 3 to 7 carbon atoms. Particular cycloalkyl groups are cyclopropyl and cyclohexyl.

Particular aryl groups within the scope of the term "hydrocarbon" and within the definition of the substituents R¹, R² and R⁶ include phenyl and naphthyl.

Particular aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl groups within the scope of the term "hydrocarbon" and within the definition of the substituents R¹, R² and R⁶ include benzyl, naphthylmethyl, phenethyl and phenylpropyl.

A particular aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl group within the scope of the term "hydrocarbon" and within the definition of the substituents R¹ and R² is phenylethenyl.

Suitable heterocycloalkyl groups include azetidinyl, pyrrolidyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl and tetrahydrofuryl groups.

A particular C₃₋₇ heterocycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl group within the scope of the expression "a heterocyclic group" and within the definition of the substituents R¹ and R² is tetrahydrofurylethyl.

Suitable heteroaryl groups within the scope of the expression "a heterocyclic group" and within the definition of the substituents R¹, R² and R⁶ include pyridyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyranyl, furyl, benzofuryl, dibenzofuryl, thienyl, benzthienyl, indolyl, indazolyl, imidazolyl, benzimidazolyl, oxadiazolyl and thiadiazolyl groups.

Particular heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl groups within the scope of the expression "a heterocyclic group" and within the definition of the substituents R¹ and R² include thienylmethyl, pyridylmethyl, pyrimidinylmethyl and pyrazinylmethyl.

The hydrocarbon and heterocyclic groups, as well as the substituents R¹, R² and R⁶, may in turn be optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, adamantyl, phenyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, halogen, C₁₋₆ haloalkyl, C₁₋₆ aminoalkyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryloxy, keto, C₁₋₃ alkylenedioxy, nitro, cyano, carboxy, C₂₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl, C₂₋₆ alkoxycarbonyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, C₂₋₆ alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, C₂₋₆ alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, C₁₋₆ alkylthio, C₁₋₆ alkylsulphinyl, C₁₋₆ alkylsulphonyl, arylsulphonyl, trifluoromethane-sulphonyloxy, --NR^(v) R^(w), --NR^(v) COR^(w), --NR^(v) CO₂ R^(w), --NR^(v) SO₂ R^(w), --CH₂ NR^(v) SO₂ R^(w), --NHCONR^(v) R^(w), --PO(OR^(v))(OR^(w)), --CONR^(v) R^(w), --SO₂ NR^(v) R^(w) and --CH₂ SO₂ NR^(v) R^(w), in which R^(v) and R^(w) independently represent hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, aryl or aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl.

The term "halogen" as used herein includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, especially fluorine and chlorine.

The present invention includes within its scope prodrugs of the compounds of formula I above. In general, such prodrugs will be functional derivatives of the compounds of formula I which are readily convertible in vivo into the required compound of formula I. Conventional procedures for the selection and preparation of suitable prodrug derivatives are described, for example, in "Design of Prodrugs", ed. H. Bundgaard, Elsevier, 1985.

Where the compounds according to the invention have at least one asymmetric centre, they may accordingly exist as enantiomers. Where the compounds according to the invention possess two or more asymmetric centres, they may additionally exist as diastereoisomers. It is to be understood that all such isomers and mixtures thereof in any proportion are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

Suitably, the substituent A represents hydrogen or C₁₋₆ alkyl, particularly hydrogen or methyl, and especially hydrogen.

Suitably, the substituent R¹ represents hydrogen.

Typical values for the substituent R² include C₁₋₆ alkyl, aryl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryloxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl, C₃₋₇ heterocycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl and heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, any of which groups may be optionally substituted. Suitably, R² is selected from aryl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl and heteroaryl, any of which groups may be optionally substituted. Examples of optional substituents on the group R² include C₁₋₆ alkyl, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₃ alkylenedioxy, nitro, cyano, aryloxy and arylcarbonyloxy.

Particular values of R² include methyl, benzoyloxy-methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, phenyl, chlorophenyl, ethylphenyl, methoxyphenyl, nitrophenyl, naphthyl, benzyl, chlorobenzyl, phenethyl, phenoxy-methyl, phenylethenyl, fluoro-phenylethenyl, chloro-phenylethenyl, phenylethenyl, methoxy-phenylethenyl, cyano-phenylethenyl, methylenedioxy-phenylethenyl, phenylethynyl, fluoro-phenylethynyl, tetrahydrofuryl-ethyl, indolyl, benzofuryl, benzthienyl, furylethyl, methyl-furylethyl, thienylethenyl and methyl-furylethenyl.

More particularly, R² may represent phenyl, methoxyphenyl, phenylethenyl, fluoro-phenylethenyl, chloro-phenylethenyl, cyano-phenylethenyl, methylenedioxy-phenylethenyl, phenylethynyl, fluoro-phenylethynyl or benzofuryl.

Suitable values for the substituents R³, R⁴ and R⁵ include hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆)alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy and C₂₋₆ alkylcarbonyl. Particular values include hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, methyl, methoxy and benzyloxy, especially hydrogen, fluoro and methoxy.

Particular values of R⁶ include hydrogen, methoxy, phenyl, chlorophenyl, phenoxy, benzyloxy, thienyl, chloro and bromo, especially hydrogen.

One sub-class of compounds according to the invention is represented by the compounds of formula IIA, and salts and prodrugs thereof: ##STR3## wherein E represents --(CH₂)_(n) --, --CH═CH-- or --C.tbd.C--;

n is zero, 1, 2 or 3;

--X--Y-- represents --CH₂ --CH--, --CH═C-- or --CH₂ --N--;

W represents a group of formula (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi): ##STR4## in which V represents oxygen, sulphur or NH; and R¹³ and R¹⁷ independently represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆)alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy or C₂₋₆ alkylcarbonyl.

Particular values of R¹³ include hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, methyl, ethyl, methoxy and benzyloxy.

Particular values of R¹⁷ include hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, cyano, methyl, methoxy and nitro.

Another sub-class of compounds according to the invention is represented by the compounds of formula IIB, and salts and prodrugs thereof: ##STR5## wherein R¹³ is as defined with reference to formula IIA above; and

R¹⁶ represents hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryl, halo-aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy or heteroaryl.

Particular values of R¹⁶ include hydrogen, methoxy, phenyl, chlorophenyl, phenoxy, benzyloxy, thienyl, chloro and bromo.

Specific compounds within the scope of the present invention include:

3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(E)-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(E)-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(4-florophenyl)ethynyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(benzo[b]furan-5-yl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-(4-phenylethynyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(E)-(2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(E)-(2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

3-[4-(E)-(2-(3-cyanophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

7-methoxy-3-[4-(E)-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

7-methoxy-3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

7-methoxy-3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

5-fluoro-3-[4-(E)-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;

and salts and prodrugs thereof.

The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more compounds of this invention in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Preferably these compositions are in unit dosage forms such as tablets, pills, capsules, powders, granules, sterile parenteral solutions or suspensions, metered aerosol or liquid sprays, drops, ampoules, auto-injector devices or suppositories; for oral, parenteral, intranasal, sublingual or rectal administration, or for administration by inhalation or insufflation. Alternatively, the compositions may be presented in a form suitable for once-weekly or once-monthly administration; for example, an insoluble salt of the active compound, such as the decanoate salt, may be adapted to provide a depot preparation for intramuscular injection. An erodible polymer containing the active ingredient may be envisaged. For preparing solid compositions such as tablets, the principal active ingredient is mixed with a pharmaceutical carrier, e.g. conventional tableting ingredients such as corn starch, lactose, sucrose, sorbitol, talc, stearic acid, magnesinm stearate, dicalcium phosphate or gums, and other pharmaceutical diluents, e.g. water, to form a solid preformulation composition containing a homogeneous mixture of a compound of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. When referring to these preformulation compositions as homogeneous, it is meant that the active ingredient is dispersed evenly throughout the composition so that the composition may be readily subdivided into equally effective unit dosage forms such as tablets, pills and capsules. This solid preformulation composition is then subdivided into unit dosage forms of the type described above containing from 0.1 to about 500 mg of the active ingredient of the present invention. Favoured unit dosage forms contain from 1 to 100 mg, for example 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 or 100 mg, of the active ingredient. The tablets or pills of the novel composition can be coated or otherwise compounded to provide a dosage form affording the advantage of prolonged action. For example, the tablet or pill can comprise an inner dosage and an outer dosage component, the latter being in the form of an envelope over the former. The two components can be separated by an enteric layer which serves to resist disintegration in the stomach and permits the inner component to pass intact into the duodenum or to be delayed in release. A variety of materials can be used for such enteric layers or coatings, such materials including a number of polymeric acids and mixtures of polymeric acids with such materials as shellac, cetyl alcohol and cellulose acetate.

The liquid forms in which the novel compositions of the present invention may be incorporated for administration orally or by injection include aqueous solutions, suitably flavoured syrups, aqueous or oil suspensions, and flavoured emulsions with edible oils such as cottonseed oil, sesame oil, coconut oil or peanut oil, as well as elixirs and similar pharmaceutical vehicles. Suitable dispersing or suspending agents for aqueous suspensions include synthetic and natural gums such as tragacanth, acacia, alginate, dextran, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone or gelatin.

In the treatment of schizophrenia, a suitable dosage level is about 0.01 to 250 mg/kg per day, preferably about 0.05 to 100 mg/kg per day, and especially about 0.05 to 5 mg/kg per day. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day.

In order to alleviate the symptoms of schizophrenia without causing sedation or extrapyramidal side-effects, the dosage level of the compound according to the invention is ideally selected such that the dose administered is effective in substantially completely blocking the dopamine D₄ receptor subtype in human brain whilst displaying no or negligible dopamine D₂ receptor subtype occupancy. A suitable dosage level in this regard is about 0.001 to 5.0 mg/kg per day, more particularly about 0.005 to 1.0 mg/kg per day, and especially about 0.01 to 0.5 mg/kg per day.

If desired, the compounds according to this invention may be co-administered with another anti-schizophrenic medicament, for example one producing its effects via D₂ and/or 5-HT₂ receptor blockade. In such circumstances, an enhanced anti-schizophrenic effect may be envisaged without a corresponding increase in side-effects such as those caused by, for example, D₂ receptor subtype blockade; or a comparable anti-schizophrenic effect with reduced side-effects may alternatively be envisaged. Such co-administration may be desirable where a patient is already established on an anti-schizophrenic treatment regime involving conventional anti-schizophrenic medicaments such as haloperidol or chlorpromazine.

The compounds in accordance with the present invention may be prepared by a process which comprises reacting a compound of formula III with a compound of formula IV: ##STR6## wherein A, R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined above, Q¹ represents the residue of a moiety of formula Qa to Qd as defined above, and L represents a suitable leaving group.

The leaving group L is suitably a halogen atom, e.g. chlorine or bromine.

The reaction is conveniently carried out by stirring the reactants under basic conditions in a suitable solvent, for example potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylformamide, or triethylamine in tetrahydrofuran or acetonitrile.

In an alternative procedure, the compounds according to the invention may be prepared by a process which comprises reducing a compound of formula V: ##STR7## wherein A, R³, R⁴, R⁵ and Q¹ are as defined above.

The reaction is conveniently carried out by treating compound V with a suitable reducing agent, typically lithium aluminium hydride, in an appropriate solvent, e.g. tetrahydrofuran.

The preparation of the intermediates of formula V is illustrated by the following reaction scheme: ##STR8## in which A, R³, R⁴, R⁵ and Q¹ are as defined above; and Tf is an abbreviation for triflyl (trifluoro-methanesulphonyl).

In step (1), the cyclic ketone of formula VI is reacted with triflic anhydride (Tf₂ O), advantageously in the presence of a base such as di-tert-butylpyridine, and suitably in an inert solvent such as dichloromethane. The intermediate of formula VII thereby obtained is then reacted in step (2) with carbon monoxide and the appropriate compound of formula IV as defined above, the reaction being suitably mediated by palladium(II) acetate in the presence of 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (DPPF).

Where they are not commercially available, the starting materials of formula III, IV and VI may be prepared by procedures analogous to those described in the accompanying Examples, or by standard methods well known from the art. For example, a compound of formula III wherein L is halo may be prepared as described in the Examples, or by the method described in J. Heterocycl. Chem., 1978, 15, 481.

It will be appreciated that any compound of formula I initially obtained from any of the above processes may, where appropriate, subsequently be elaborated into a further desired compound of formula I using techniques known from the art.

Where the above-described processes for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention give rise to mixtures of stereoisomers, these isomers may be separated by conventional techniques such as preparative chromatography. The compounds may be prepared in racemic form, or individual enantiomers may be prepared either by enantiospecific synthesis or by resolution. The compounds may, for example, be resolved into their component enantiomers by standard techniques such as preparative HPLC, or the formation of diastereomeric pairs by salt formation with an optically active acid, such as (-)-di-p-toluoyl-d-tartaric acid and/or (+)-di-p-toluoyl-1-tartaric acid, followed by fractional crystallization and regeneration of the free base. The compounds may also be resolved by formation of diastereomeric esters or amides, followed by chromatographic separation and removal of the chiral auxiliary.

During any of the above synthetic sequences it may be necessary and/or desirable to protect sensitive or reactive groups on any of the molecules concerned. This may be achieved by means of conventional protecting groups, such as those described in Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry, ed. J. F. W. McOmie, Plenum Press, 1973; and T. W. Greene & P. G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley & Sons, 1991. The protecting groups may be removed at a convenient subsequent stage using methods known from the art.

The following Examples illustrate the preparation of compounds according to the invention.

The compounds useful in this invention potently inhibit [³ H]-spiperone binding to human dopamine D₄ receptor subtypes expressed in clonal cell lines. Moreover, the compounds according to the invention display a selective affinity for the D₄ subtype relative to the D₂ subtype.

[³ H]-Spiperone Binding Studies

Clonal cell lines expressing the human dopamine D₄ receptor subtype were harvested in PBS and then lysed in 10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4 buffer containing 5 mM MgSO₄ for 20 min on ice. Membranes were centrifuged at 50,000 g for 15 min at 4° C. and the resulting pellets resuspended in assay buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4 containing 5 mM EDTA, 1.5 mM CaCl₂, 5 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM KCl, 120 mM NaCl, and 0.1% ascorbic acid) at 20 mg/ml wet weight. Incubations were carried out for 60 min at room temperature (22° C.) in the presence of 0.05-2 nM [³ H]-spiperone or 0.2 nM for displacement studies and were initiated by addition of 20-100 μg protein in a final assay volume of 0.5 ml. The incubation was terminated by rapid filtration over GF/B filters presoaked in 0.3% PEI and washed with 10 ml ice-cold 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4. Specific binding was determined by 10 μM apomorphine and radioactivity determined by counting in a LKB beta counter. Binding parameters were determined by non-linear least squares regression analysis, from which the inhibition constant K_(i) could be calculated for each test compound.

The compounds of the accompanying Examples were tested in the above assay, and all were found to possess a K_(i) value for displacement of [³ H]-spiperone from the human dopamine D₄ receptor subtype of below 1.5 μM.

EXAMPLE 1 3-(1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan hydrochloride

Step 1: Benzo[b]furan-3-yl trifluoromethanesulfonate

To a solution of 3-coumaranone (10 g, 75 mmol) in dichloromethane (200 ml) was added trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (14 ml, 79 mmol) and 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (17 ml, 75 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 3 hours at room temperature. The reaction mixture was washed with 1N hydrochloric acid (2×70 ml) and the organic phase dried (magnesium sulfate) and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on silica, eluting with petrol (60°-80°) to yield the product as an off (19 g, 96%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 7.40-7.44 (2H, m, 5-H, 6-H), 7.52 (1H, d, J 8.1 Hz, 7-H), 7.62 (1H, d, J 8.3 Hz, 4-H), 7.82 (1H, s, 2-H).

Step 2: 2-(3-Benzo[b]furanylcarbonyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline

To a solution of the above triflate (2.6 g, 10 mmol) in dry dimethylformamide (30 ml) was added 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (6.25 ml, 50 mmol), triethylamine (2.8 ml, 20 mmol), palladium (II) acetate (67 mg, 0.3 mmol) and 1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (332 mg, 0.6 mmol). The mixture was purged with nitrogen for 10 mins, and then carbon monoxide for 15 mins. The reaction was then stirred at 60° C. under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide for 3 hours. The excess triethylamine was removed by evaporation, and the residual solution partitioned between brine (50 ml) and ethyl acetate (3×50 ml). The combined organic phases were dried (magnesium sulfate) and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed on silica, eluting with 50% ethyl acetate/petrol (60°-80°) to yield the product as an oil that slowly crystallised on standing (2 g, 72%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.96 (2H, br s, 4'-CH₂), 3.93 (2H, br s, 3'-CH₂), 4.86 (2H, br s, 1'-CH₂), 7.11-7.20 (4H, m, ArH), 7.30-7.38 (2H, m, ArH), 7.55 (1H, d, J 8.1 Hz, 7-H), 7.69 (1H, d, J 7.5 Hz, 4-H) 7.90 (1H, s, 2-H).

Step 3: 3-(1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan hydrochloride

To a solution of the foregoing amide (2 g, 7.2 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (40 ml) was added a solution of lithium aluminium hydride (1M in tetrahydrofuran, 7.2 ml, 7.2 mmol) and the reaction refluxed for 2 hours. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and quenched by addition of water (300 μl), 4N sodium hydroxide (300 μl) and water (900 μl ). The mixture was filtered through Hyflo, and the filtrate evaporated. The residue was partitioned between ethyl acetate (20 ml) and 1N hydrochloric acid (2×25 ml). The combined aqueous phases were basified with 4N sodium hydroxide and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×30 ml ). The combined organic phases were dried (magnesium sulfate) and evaporated to an oil which solidified on standing. The solid was dissolved in the minimum amount of ether and ethereal hydrogen chloride added to yield the hydrochloride salt. This was filtered off, and recrystallised from ethanol/ether to afford the title compound (1.1 g, 50%), m.p. 223°-225° C.; (Found: C, 72.05; H, 6.25; N, 4.72. C₁₈ H₁₇ NO. HCl requires C, 72.11; H, 6.05; N, 4.67%); δ_(H) (D₂ O) 3.19-3.22 (2H, m, 4-CH₂), 3.56-3.69 (2H, m, 3-CH₂), 4.45 (2H, s, NCH₂ Ar), 4.68 (2H, s, NCH₂ Ar), 7.13 (1H, d, J 7.4 Hz, ArH), 7.27-7.35 (3H, m, ArH), 7.44-7.51 (2H, m, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d, J 7.7 Hz, 7-H), 7.78 (1H, d, J 8.6 Hz, ArH), 8.10 (1H, s, 2-H); m/z (CI⁺, NH₃) 264 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 2 3-[4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 110°-112° C. (from toluene); (Found: C, 74.69; H, 6.85; N, 8.99. C₂₀ H₂₂ N₂ O₂ requires C, 74.51; H, 6.88; N, 8.69%); δ_(H) (CDCl3) 2.67-2.71 (4H, m, 2×piperazinyl CH₂), 3.09-3.13 (4H, m, 2×piperazinyl CH₂), 3.72 (2H, s, NCH₂ Ar), 3.76 (3H, s, OCH3), 6.80-6.91 (4H, m, ArH), 7.25-7.34 (2H, m, ArH), 7.49 (1H, d, J 8.5 Hz, ArH), 7.59 (1H, s, 2-H), 7.75 (1H, d, J 10.3 Hz, ArH); m/z (CI⁺, NH₃) 323 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 3 3-[4-Phenylpiperazin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 103°-105° C. (from cyclohexane); (Found: C, 77.79; H, 7.02; N, 9.62. C₁₉ H₂₀ N₂ O requires C, 78.05; H, 6.90; N, 9.58%). δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.67 (4H, t, J 5.1 Hz, 2×piperazinyl CH₂), 3.20 (4H, t, 2×piperazinyl CH₂), 3.71 (2H, s, NCH₂ Ar), 6.84 (1H, t, J 7.2 Hz, ArH), 6.91 (2H, d, J 8.7 Hz, ArH), 7.22-7.32 (4H, m, ArH), 7.47 (1H, d, J 8.1 Hz, ArH), 7.57 (1H, s, 2-H, 7.74 (1H, d, J 7.4 Hz, ArH); m/z (CI³⁰ , NH₃), 291 (M+1)³⁰ .

EXAMPLE 4 3-[4-(E)-(2-Phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

Step 1: Methyl benzo[b]furan-3-carboxylate

A mixture of benzo[b]furan-3-yl trifluoromethanesulfonate (5.00 g, 18.8 mmol), triethylamine (5.2 ml, 37.3 mmol), palladium (II) acetate (0.130 g, 0.579 mmol), 1, 1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (0.628 g, 1.13 mmol), and methanol (17 ml) in dimethylformamide (40 ml) was purged with carbon monoxide for 20 minutes and stirred under a carbon monoxide balloon at 60° C. for 2.5 hours. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool, diluted with water (250 ml) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 ml). The extracts were washed with 1M hydrochloric acid (100 ml) then saturated brine (100 ml), combined and dried (magnesium sulfate). The solvent was evaporated and the residue purified by flash chromatography, eluting with 5% ethyl acetate in petrol (60°-80°) then 10% ethyl acetate in petrol (60°-80°), to afford the title compound (2.65 g, 80%) as a pale yellow oil; δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 3.94 (3H, s, CO₂ CH₃), 7.34-7.39 (2H, m, ArH), 7.53 (1H, m, ArH), 8.07 (1H, m, ArH), 8.26 (1H, s, 2-H).

Step 2: 3-Hydroxymethylbenzo[b]furan

Diisobutylaluminium hydride in toluene (1.5M, 16.8 ml, 25.2 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of methyl benzo[b]furan-3-carboxylate (2.02 g, 11.5 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (50 ml) at -75° C. The resulting solution was stirred at -75° C. for 30 minutes, the cooling bath removed and the mixture allowed to warm to room temperature. The reaction mixture was recooled to -40° C. and quenched by sequential addition of methanol (3 ml), water (1.5 ml) and 2M sodium hydroxide (1.5 ml). The mixture was allowed to warm up to produce a gel, which was filtered off and washed with dichloromethane (6×50 ml). The filtrate was evaporated to dryness, the residue redissolved in ether and the solution dried over magnesium sulphate. The solution was evaporated to afford the title compound (1.66 g, 98%) as an oil which crystallised on standing; δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 1.61 (1H, br s, OH), 4.85 (2H, s, C H₂ OH), 7.25-7.35 (2H, m, ArH), 7.49 (1H, dd, J 7.8, 1.0 Hz, ArH), 7.61 (1H, s, 2-H), 7.67 (1H, m, ArH).

Step 3: 3-[4-(E)-(2-Phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

Thionyl chloride (0.25 ml 3.4 mmol) was added to a solution of 3-hydroxymethylbenzo[b]furan (0.4515 g, 3.05 mmol) in anhydrous ether (10 ml), the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 hours and evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in anhydrous dimethylformamide (10 ml), potassium carbonate (1.05 g, 7.60 mmol) and (E)-4-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (0.68 g, 3.67 mmol) was added and the mixture stirred at room temperature, under nitrogen, overnight (20 hours). The reaction mixture was poured into water (100 ml) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 ml). The extracts were washed with saturated brine (50 ml), combined and dried (magnesium sulfate). The residue after evaporation of the solvent was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with 20% then 25% ethyl acetateetrol (60°-80°), to afford the title compound (0.4734 g, 49%). Recrystallisation from ethyl acetate/petrol (60°-80°) gave pale yellow needles, m.p. 122°-123° C.; (Found: C, 8.29; H, 6.58; N, 4.36. C₂₂ H₂₁ NO.0.1H₂ O requires C, 83.30; H, 6.74; N, 4.42%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.43 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.73 (2H, t, J 5.7 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.21 (2H, d, J 2.7 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.76 (2H, s, ArCH2N), 5.82 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.44 (1H, d, J 16.1 Hz, C H═CHPh), 6.79 (1H, d, J 16.1 Hz, CH═C HPh), 7.17-7.32 (5H, m, ArH), 7.39 (2H, m, ArH), 7.48 (1H, m, ArH), 7.58 (1H, s, 2-H), 7.73 (1H, m, ArH); m (ES⁺) 316 (M+1)⁺.

Prepared in an analogous manner were:

EXAMPLE 5 3-(4-(E)-[2-(4-Fluoro)phenylethenyl]-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 114°-115° C. (ethyl acetate/petrol); (Found: C, 78.56; H, 5.98; N, 4.08. C₂₂ H₂₀ FNO.0.15H₂ O requires C, 78.62; H, 6.09; N, 4.17%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.41 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.73 (2H, t, J 5.7 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.20 (2H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.76 (2H, s, ArCH₂ N), 5.81 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.40 (1H, d, J 16.1 Hz, C H═CHAr), 6.70 (1H, d, J 16.1 Hz, CH═C HAr), 6.98 (2H, m, ArH), 7.21-7.37 (4H, m, ArH), 7.48 (1H, dd, J 7.9, 0.9 Hz, ArH), 7.58 (1H, s, 2-H), 7.73 (1H, dd, J 6.7, 0.9 Hz, ArH); m (ES⁺) 334 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 6 3-[4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahyclropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 115°-117° C. (ethyl acetate); (Found: C, 78.74; H, 6.55; N, 4.37. C₂₁ H₂₁ NO₂ requires C, 78.97; H, 6.63; N, 4.39%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.54 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.77 (2H, t, J 5.7 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.24 (2H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.79 (2H, s, ArCH2N), 3.80 (3H, s, OCH₃), 5.97 (1H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.82-6.86 (2H, m, ArH), 7.22-7.32 (4H, m, ArH), 7.46-7.49 (1H, m, ArH), 7.61 (1H, s, 2-H), 7.73 (1H, m, ArH); m/z (ES⁺) 320 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 7 3-[4-(4-Fluorophenyl)ethynyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 79°-80° C. (methanol); (Found: C, 79.48; H, 5.38; N, 4.01. C₂₂ H₁₈ FNO requires C, 79.74; H, 5.48; N, 4.23%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.36 (2H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.67 (2H, t, J 5.6 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.16 (2H, m, tetrahyclropyridinyl CH₂), 3.75 (2H, s, ARCH₂ N), 6.10 (1H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.96-7.01 (2H, m, ArH), 7.21-7.30 (2H, m, ArH), 7.38 (2H, m, ArH), 7.47 (1H, m, ArH), 7.56 (1H, s, 2-H) and 7.72 (1H, m, ArH); m/z (ES⁺) 332 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 8 3-[4-(Benzo[b]furan-5-yl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan oxalate

M.p. 210°-211° C. (methanol); (found: C, 68.59; H, 4.93; N, 3.20. C₂₂ H₁₉ NO₂.(CO₂ H)₂ requires C, 68.73; H, 5.05; N, 3.34%); δ_(H) (DMSO-d₆) 2.73 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.20 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.61 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 4.26 (2H, s, ArCH₂ N), 6.14 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.94 (1H, d, J 1.5 Hz, ArH), 7.31-7.44 (3H, m, ArH), 7.56 (1H, d, J 8.7 Hz, ArH), 7.63 (1H, d, J 7.6 Hz, ArH), 7.69 (1H, d, J 1.5 Hz, ArH), 7.87 (1H, d, J 8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.98 (1H, d, J 2.1 Hz, ArH) and 8.14 (1H, s, ArH); m/z (ES⁺) 330 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 9 3-[4-Phenylethynyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 81°-84° C. (petroleum ether 60/80); (found: C, 84.40; H, 6.11; N, 4.38. C₂₂ H₁₉ NO requires C, 84.31; H, 6.11; N, 4.47%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.36-2.39 (2H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.67 (2H, t, J 5.7 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.15-3.17 (2H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.75 (2H, s, ArCH₂ N), 6.10-6.12 (1H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 7.21-7.32 (5H, m, ArH, 7.40-7.42 (2H, m, ArH, 7.47 (1H, d, J 8.0 Hz, ArH, 7.56 (1H, s, 2-H and 7.73 (1H, d, J 7.5 Hz, ArH; m/z (ES⁺) 314 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 10 3-[4-(E)-(2-(3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 118°-120° C. (from ethyl acetate/petrol); (found: C, 76.52; H, 5.95; N, 3.75; C₂₃ H₂₁ NO₃ requires C, 76.86; H, 5.89; N, 3.90%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.41 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.75 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.22 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.78 (2H, s, N CH₂ Ar), 5.77 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl 5-CH), 5.94 (2H, s, O CH₂ O), 6.36 (1H, d, J 16.1 Hz, ArCH₂ CH₂ C),6.62 (1H, d, J 16.1 Hz, Ar CH₂ CH₂ C), 6.74 (1H, d, J 8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.82 (1H, d, J 8.0 Hz, ArH), 6.94 (1H, s, ArH), 7.21-7.31 (2H, m, ArH), 7.48 (1H, d, J 8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.60 (1H, s, ArH), 7.72 (1H, d, J 6.9 Hz, ArH); m (ES⁺) 360 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 11 3-[4-(E)-(2-(3- Chlorophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan hydrochloride

M.p. 211°-213° C. (from methanol/ether); (found: C, 68.10; H, 5.75; N, 3.72; C₂₂ H₂₀ ClNO, HCl requires C, 68.40; H, 5.48; N, 6.63%); δ_(H) (DMSO-d₆) 2.65 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.25 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 3.66 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 3.86 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 4.58 (2H, br s, N CH₂ Ar), 5.94 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl 5-CH), 6.60 (1H, d, J 16.3 Hz, ArCH₂ CH₂ C), 7.07 (1H, d, J 16.3 Hz, Ar CH₂ CH₂ C), 7.29 (1H, d, J 8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.34-7.48 (4H, m, ArH), 7.62 (1H, s, ArH), 7.67 (1H, d, J 7.3 Hz, ArH), 8.00 (1H, d, J 7.0 Hz, ArH), 8.31 (1H, s, ArH); m (ES⁺) 350 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 12 3-[4-(E)-(2-(3-Cyanophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan hydrochloride

M.p. 208°-210° C. (from propan-2-ol); (found: C, 72.12; H, 6.16; N, 6.78; C₂₃ H₂₀ N₂ O, HCl, 0.75 (C₃ H₈ O) requires C, 71.87; H, 6.45; N, 6.64%); δ_(H) (DMSO-d₆) 2.67 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.68 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.87 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 4.58 (2H, br s, N CH₂ Ar), 5.96 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl 5-CH), 6.65 (1H, d, J 16.3 Hz, ArCH₂ CH₂ C), 7.15 (1H, d, J 16.3 Hz, Ar CH₂ CH₂ C), 7.35-7.43 (2H, m, ArH), 7.55 (1H, t, J 7.8 Hz, ArH), 7.68 (2H, t, J 7.5 Hz, ArH), 7.84 (1H, d, J 8.0 Hz, ArH), 7.98-8.02 (2H, m, ArH), 8.29 (1H, s, ArH); m (ES+), 341 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 13 7-Methoxy-(E)-3-[4-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

The title compound was prepared from 7-methoxy-3-benzofuranone (synthesised using the method of Jung and Abrecht, J. Org. Chem., 1988, 53, 423-425) using chemistry analogous to Example 4.

M.p. 152°-153° C. (from propan-2-ol); (found: C, 79.77; H, 6.78; N, 4.15. C₂₃ H₂₃ NO₂ requires C, 79.97; H, 6.71; N, 4.05%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.42 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.73 (2H, t, J 5.7 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.21 (2H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.75 (2H, s, ArCH₂ N), 4.01 (3H, s, ArOCH₃), 5.82 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.44 (1H, d, J 16.Hz, C H═CHPh), 6.76-6.83 (2H, m, ArH), 7.14-7.21 (2H, m, ArH), 7.25=7.33 (3H, m, ArH), 7.39 (1H, d, J 7.4 Hz, ArH) and 7.59 (1H, s, 2-H); m (ES⁺) 346 (M+1)⁺.

Prepared in an analogous manner were:

EXAMPLE 14 7-Methoxy-3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

M.p. 126°-127° C. (propan-2-ol); (found: C, 71.83; H, 6.77; N, 7.92. C₂₁ H₂₄ N₂ O₃ requires C, 71.57; H, 6.86; N, 7.95%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.66 (4H, t, J 4.9 Hz, 2×piperazinyl CH₂), 3.09 (4H, t, J 4.9 Hz, 2×piperazinyl CH₂), 3.69 (2H, s, ArCH₂ N), 3.76 (3H, s, OCH₃), 4.01 (3H, s, OCH₃), 6.81-6.84 (3H, m, ArH), 6.86-6.89 (2H, m, ArH), 7.16 (1H, t, J 7.8 Hz, ArH), 7.33 (1H, dd, J 7.9 & 0.7 Hz, 4-H) and 7.57 (1H, s, 2-H); m/z (ES⁺) 353 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 15 7-Methoxy-3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

25 M.p. 114°-115° C. (propan-2-ol); (found: C, 75.47; H, 6.36; N, 4.05. C₂₂ H₂₃ NO₂ requires C, 75.62; H, 6.63; N, 4.01%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.53 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.76 (2H, t, J 5.6 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.22 (2H, q, J 5.9 & 2.7 HZ, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.76 (2H, s, ArCH₂ N), 3.80 (3H, s, OCH₃), 4.01 (3H, s, OCH₃), 5.97 (1H, m, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.80-6.86 (3H, m, ArH), 7.30-7.33 (3H, m, ArH) and 7.60 (1H, s, 2-H); m/z (ES⁺) 350 (M+1)⁺.

EXAMPLE 16 5-Fluoro-(E)-3-[4-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan

Prepared in an analogous manner to Example 13 from 5-fluoro-3-benzofuranone.

M.p. 144°-146° C. (propan-2-ol); (Found C, 78.83; H, 5.80; N, 4.16. C₂₂ H₂₀ FNO.0.012(C₃ H₈ O) requires C, 79.21; H, 6.06; N, 4.19%); δ_(H) (CDCl₃) 2.42 (2H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 2.71 (2H, t, 5.7 Hz, tetrahydxopyridinyl CH₂), 3.18 (2H, d, J 2.6 Hz, tetrahydropyridinyl CH₂), 3.71 (2H, s, ArCH₂ N), 5.81 (1H, br s, tetrahydropyridinyl CH), 6.44 (1H, d, J 16.1 Hz, C H═CHAr), 6.79 (1H, d, J 16.2 Hz, CH═C HAr), 7.00 (1H, dt, J 2.6 & 9.0 Hz, 6-H), 7.20 (1H, t, J 7.3 Hz, ArH), 7.27-7.32 (2H, m, ArH), 7.37-7.40 (4H, m, ArH) and 7.60 (1H, s, 2-H); m (ES⁺) 334 (M+1)⁺. 

We claim:
 1. A compound of formula I, or a salt or prodrug thereof: ##STR9## wherein A represents hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, halogen, cyano or trifluoromethyl;Q represents a moiety of formula Qa, Qb, Qc or Qd: ##STR10## in which the broken line represents an optional chemical bond; R¹ represents hydrogen, or an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, aryl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl, C₃₋₇ heterocydoalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl or heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl group; R² represents an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₂₋₆ alkenyl, C₂₋₆ alkynyl, aryl, aryl(C₁₋₆)aryl, aryloxy(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl, C₃₋₇ heterocycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl or heteroaryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl group; R³, R⁴ and R⁵ independently represent hydrogen, hydrocarbon, a heterocyclic group, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl, nitro, --OR^(a), --SR^(a), --SOR^(a), --SO₂ R^(a), --SO₂ NR^(a) R^(b), --NR^(a) R^(b), --NR^(a) COR^(b), --NR^(a) CO₂ R^(b), --COR^(a), --CO₂ R^(a) or --CONR^(a) R^(b) ; Z represents --CH₂ -- or --CH₂ CH₂ --; R⁶ represents hydrogen or halogen, or an optionally substituted C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy or heteroaryl group; and R^(a) and R^(b) independently represent hydrogen, hydrocarbon or a heterocyclic group.
 2. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein A represents hydrogen.
 3. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein R² represents aryl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl or heteroaryl, any one of which groups may be optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₃ alkylenedioxy, nitro, cyano, aryloxy and arylcarbonyloxy.
 4. A compound as claimed in claim 1 wherein A R² represents aryl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkenyl, aryl(C₂₋₆)alkynyl or heteroaryl, any of which groups may be optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, C₁₋₃ alkylenedioxy, nitro, cyano, aryloxy and arylcarbonyloxy.
 5. A compound as claimed in claim 1 represented by formula IIA, and salts and prodrugs thereof: ##STR11## wherein E represents --(CH₂)_(n) --, --CH═CH-- or --C.tbd.C--;n is zero, 1, 2 or 3; --X--Y-- represents --CH₂ --CH--, --CH═C-- or --CH₂ --N--; W represents a group of formula (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi): ##STR12## in which V represents oxygen, sulphur or NH; and R¹³ and R¹⁷ independently represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆)alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy or C₂₋₆ alkylcarbonyl.
 6. A compound as claimed in claim 1 represented by formula IIB, and salts and prodrugs thereof: ##STR13## wherein R¹³ represents hydrogen, halogen, cyano nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, C₁₋₆ alkylamino, di(C₁₋₆)alkylamino, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy aryl (C₁₋₆)alkoxy or C₂₋₆ alkylcarbonyl; andR¹⁶ represents hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₆ alkoxy, aryl, halo-aryl, aryloxy, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, aryl(C₁₋₆)alkoxy or heteroaryl.
 7. A compound as claimed in claim 1 selected from:3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(E)-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(E)-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)ethynyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(benzo[b]furan-5-yl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrialn-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-(4-phenylethynyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrdin-1-yl)methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(E)-(2-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(E)-(2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 3-[4-(E)-(2-(3-cyanophenyl)ethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 7-methoxy-3-[4-(E)-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 7-methoxy-3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 7-methoxy-3-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2, 3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan; 5-fluoro-3-[4-(E)-(2-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl]methylbenzo[b]furan;and salts and prodrugs thereof.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as claimed in claim 1 in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 9. A composition as claimed in claim 8 further comprising another anti-schizophrenic medicament.
 10. A process for the preparation of a compound as claimed in claim 1 which comprises:(A) reacting a compound of formula III with a compound of formula IV: ##STR14## wherein A, R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined in claim 1, Q¹ represents the residue of a moiety of formula Qa to Qd as defined in claim 1, and L represents a suitable leaving group; or (B) reducing a compound of formula V: ##STR15## wherein A, R³, R⁴ and R⁵ are as defined in claim 1, and Q¹ is as defined above; and (C) subsequently, where required, converting a compound of formula I initially obtained into a further compound of formula I by conventional methods.
 11. A method for the treatment and/or prevention of psychotic disorders which comprises administering to a patient in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound as claimed in claim
 1. 